Cone marking machine and method



Oct. 23, 1945. c. K. DUNLAP ET AL CONE MARKING MACHINE AND METHOD FiledNov. 28-, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M MN W A .Hu@-HHWIK N m u W NW mQ ,3 MWx l l in: MW \N \N k NM f-Zgir (Ittorneg.

Oct. 23, 1945.

c. K. DUNLAP ET AL CONE MARKING MACHINE AND METHOD- Filed Nov. 28, 1942I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ennentors:

Charles JCDunZap, lawenceflsiqyner;

1945. c. K. DUNLAP ET AL. 2,387,248

CONE MARKING MACHINE AND METHOD FiIed Nov. 28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 126115 1 .9.

Zinventors:

CkarZesJCDunZan Lawrencefiflfagner,

fine i2 Cittomeg,

Oct. 23, C K DU ET AL 1 2,387,248

CONE MARKIIFNG MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 28, 1942 Sheets-Sheet 5 105I: .13 151 152 1a! 155i 'Ild rr- 1' l 103 1 2 1 155 155 1 155 135 1&8152 l g gs-r" 12561222745 Snnentors: CYaaTZssJCDunZalawrenceflflfizyner;

MK M Patented Oct. 23, 1945 CONE MARKING MACHINE METHOD Charles K.Dunlap and Lawrence B. Stogner, Hartsville, S. 0., assignors to SonocoProducts Company, a corporation of South Carolina Application November28, 1942, Serial No. 467,250

16 Claims;

Our invention relates to machines for marking cones, more particularlythe hollow conical shells usually made of wound paper stock or similarfibrous material or'pulp. These cones are generally used in the textileindustry as spools or bobbins on which the knitting and weaving threador yarn is wound and taken therefrom when placed in the looms andknitting machines to produce the fabric.

In practice the respective cones are usually marked at their bases, eachwith a, relatively narrow, annular band of a distinctive colorindicative of the particular type ofthe thread or yarn to be wound andcarried on the cone.

The present invention has to do with the marking of the cones asgenerally stated above. However, in its more specific purport, it isconcerned with a machine of simplified construction, yet positive inaction and of high efficiency in the feeding and travel f the cones andapplication of the marking material to the cones.

The general broad features of the machine, as well as its more specificstructure, will appear in the following description in connection withthe accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a generally schematic View, in side elevation and with certainstructural details omitted, but showing the relative form andarrangement of the principal cooperative elements of the machine; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a conventional, hollow cone;

Fig. 4 is a view, on a smaller scale and more or less schematic incharacter, illustrating a stick of nested cones, with one of the markingwheels and the presser roller of the machine in their cooperativerelation for the marking of a cone in the stick;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in partial longitudinal section and sideelevation and on an enlarged scale, showing in clearer detail thenesting of the cones in a stick;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in partial longitudinal section andelevation, of the middle portion of the machine, with parts of the powerdriving mechanism removed to show more clearly the correlation ofcone-marking elements and adjacent portions of the cone-feeding means inthe region of the markin means;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of that portion of the machine shown in Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the machine at a place Just beyondthe marking means, showing parts of the main driving means;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, on a larger scale 10 means for thecone-carryingtrough;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, in partial cross section and elevation,illustrating the pusher element for the cones on the cone-carryingtrough;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, in'partial longitudinal section andelevation, illustrating more particularly the cone-carrying trough andits supporting and actuating means;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view. on an enlarged scale, showing moreclearly the positive cone- 2 feeding lug of the cone-carrying trough;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation and partiallongitudinal section, illustrating the main lifting and loweringelements for the conecarrying trough in their relative positions whenthe trough is in its normal lowermost position;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when ,the cone-carrying trough is in its raisedposition;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view, on a greatly enlarged scale, showing thedetails of the lifting,

forwardly feeding, lowering and returning mechanism of the cone-carryingtrough, together with the correlated lifting and lowering control of thepresser roller, the several parts being in their relative positions whenthe cone-carrying trough and the presser roller are in lowered position;

Fig. 16 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 15, but at the time thecone-carrying trough and the presser roller are in raised position;

'40 Fig. 17 is a partial cross sectional and elevational view, on asomewhat enlarged scale, showing more particularly the pan or containerfor theliquid marking material and the means for transferring themarking material and applying it to one of the marking wheels which,together with the companion wheel, applies the marking material to theinterposed cone; and

Fig. 18 is a partial longitudinal section and elevation of thecooperative parts shown in Fig. 17.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and,

first, more generally as to the principal cooperative elements thatenter directly into the handling and marking of the cones, the numeral20 designates, generally, the main frame of the machine. As shown, thisframe comprise a middle stand 21, carrying the main driving andcontrolling mechanism and having at the front end thereof a horizontallead-in extension 22 that supports the cone carrier and feeder elements.

At the rear end of the middle frame section or stand 2|, is an upwardlyinclined extension 23 supporting the elements that carry the markedcones from the marking elements and deliver the cones from the machine.

The cone carrying and feeding means includes a trough 24 which ispreferably V-shape in cross section. This trough 24 is disposed betweena pair of parallel rolls 25 in close proximity thereto. The rolls 25 arecontinuously rotated in the same direction, while the interposed trough24 is given an intermittent actuation which is rotary and longitudinallybetween the pair of rolls 25. That is to say. the trough, in itsactuation and although substantially horizontal at all times, is liftedfrom a normal lowermost position and simultaneously moved longitudinallyinward of' the main frame of the machine, brought momentarily to rest inthis raised and longitudinally moved position, thence lowered andsimultaneously returned longitudinally to its normal lowermost position,where it again rests momentarily. The just described cycle of actuationof the trough continues intermittently, with precise regularity, duringthe operations of the machine.

The relative diameters of the rolls 25 and their axial location onopposite sides of the trough 24 is such that, when a stick 26 of snuglynested cones 21 is laid in the trough, pointed end inward and in whichrelation the stick of cones is carried through the machine, theperipheral faces of the continuously rotating rolls 25 are in contactwith the base portions of the several cones in the stick during the timethe trough is at rest in its lowermost position. Hence, at this time,inasmuch as the circumferences of the cones 21 are naturally knurled orotherwise roughened,.

the circular contour of the base portions of the cones and possibilityof their non-precise axial alignment in the sticks, comes frequently incontact with either or both of the rolls 25 and it is accordinglyrotated.

When the trough 24-is raised and moved longitudinally inward, in thatpart of its cycle of actuation as hereinbefore stated, the stick 26 of"the cones 21 is lifted clear of the rotating rolls 25 and carried on thetrough the length of the stroke of the latter. Then, as the troughlowers and returns longitudinally to its normal lowermost position ofrest, the stick 26 of the cones 21 is again brought into contact withthe pair of rolls 25 and thereby again rotated. Thus, the

stick of cones is intermittently rotated and car-- ried longitudinally,step-by-step, through the machine.

While the weight of the stick 26 of the nested cones 21 is suflicient tomake the stick hold in place by its frictional contact with the trough24 so as to effect an intermittent feeding of the stick through themachine, special provision is preferably made for a more positive,step-by-step, longitudinal movement of the stick. For this purpose afeeder lug 28 is provided in the trough 24 at the inner end thereof, asshown more clearly in Fig. 12. This lug 28, on the feeding stroke of thetrough 24, engages behind the shoulder afforded by the edge of theexposed annular base of the cone 21 just ahead thereof in the stick 26.Thus, the stick 26 is moved positively to bring each cone 21 of thestick in succession to a definite position in the machine to receive acolored marking band 29, as will be later more specifically described.

To assure the feeding of the stick 26 of the cones 21 in the nestedassembly thereof, a pusher element 30 is preferably provided as shown inFigs. 6, 7, 10, 11, 13 and 14. This element, as shown, comprises a,weighted, vertical, generally rectangular block 3| having a bevelledlower end portion 32 corresponding to the angularity of the V-shapetrough 24 so as to rest in the latter, as a counterpart thereof, whenthe trough is in its raised position and during the stick-feeding strokein that cycle of its actuation.

The pusher element 30 is placed by hand of the attendant or operator ofthe machine, directly against the outer endmost cone 21 of the stick 26,the cones of which are replenished in nested groups or sticks from timeto time as the marked cones are taken from the delivery end of themachine, as will be later more specifically described. In this way,there is a long, continuous stick of cones maintained throughout themajor length of the machine and the pusher element 30 is always againstthe open end of the stick.

During the time the trough 24 is in its normal lowermost position, thepusher element is supported slightly elevated clear of the trough. Thisis accomplished by the provision of a stationary carrier frame,comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, horizontal rails 33,preferably L-shape in cross section, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10.These rails are located laterally outward from the feeder rolls 25 innear, parallel relation thereto. They are rigidly cross-connected attheir front ends by a transverse frame member 34, and, at a shortdistance inwardly from said transverse frame member, they are mounted onright angular, upstanding, supporting brackets 35 that are respectivelysecured at their lower ends to the side rails of the lead-in extension22 of the main frame of the machine.

The carrier frame side rails 33 are rigidly supported, near their innerends, on posts 36 which extend up vertically from a top plate 31 thatcovers the middle stand portion 2| of the main frame of the machine. Onthese stationary carrier frame rails 33 are slidably supported the endportions 33 of a crosshead 39 of the pusher element 36. This crossheadis preferably L-shape in cross section and has one of its flangesdisposed vertically upward, the other flange thereof being, of course,horizontal and resting with its opposite end portions flatwise on theupstanding flanges of the side rails 33 of the stationary carrier frame,that is to say, when the trough 24 is in its normal lowermost position.During this time, the bevelled lower end 32 of the pusher element block3| is elevated out of contact with the trough 24. However, when thetrough is raised from its normal lowermost position for the cone-feedingstroke inits aforesaid cycle of actuation, it comes in contact with andlifts the block 3|, thereby raising the crosshead 39 of the pusherelement some distance clear of the vertical flanges of the side rails 33of the stationary carrier frame. The pusher element 30, thus supportedon the trough 24 and free from the rails 33, moves in place with thetrough on its cone-feeding stroke.

Fo convenience in the handling, placing and removal of the pusherelement 30 by the attendant or operator of the machine, the element isprovided with a knob 30' at the middle of the crosshead 39. i

The trough 24 has a depending lug at its inner end, hingedly attached,as at 4|, to the upper end of a feeder bar 42 whose lower end portion isslotted longitudinally thereof, as at 43, and mounted on a crosspin 44of a bifurcated lug 45 that is secured to a horizontal, lower member 46of the middle stand portion 2| of the main frame of the machine (seeFig. 15). With the feeder bar 42 thus provided and mounted it is capableof combined vertical movement and oscillation in a directionlongitudinally of the machine, which actuation is effected by thefollowing described mechanism.

First, it is pointed out that the bar 42 is yieldably held in a normallyretracted position and returned to such position by a spring element 41which is attached at one end either directly to the bar itself or tosome element carried by the bar for the actuation thereof, as willpresently more fully appear; and, at its opposite end, to somestationary part of the machine. Conveniently, as shown at 88, in Fig. 6,this end of the spring may be attached to a box or casing 49 whichhouses a conventional reduction gear that is included in the power drivemechanism of the machine to be later described in detail.

Next, the bar 42 is intermittently oscillated by a double-nosed camelement 50 which is fixed on a countershaft 5| that extends transverselyof the middle stand portion 2| of the machine main frame and is drivenfrom a main drive shaft 52 by a meshed pair of miter gears 53, as shownin Fig. 6.

As the cam element 50 rotates, its diametricallyopposite nosesalternately move into engagement with an anti-friction roller 54journalled on the feeder bar 42, thereby, in turn, rocking the bar 42 onthe pivot pin 44 of the supporting lug 45 in the direction to move thetrough 24 to advance the stick of cones one step in the feedingactuation thereof.

During the just above noted actuation of the feeder bar 42, the bar issimultaneously lifted longitudinally upward. means of a lifting rod 55having an offset, bifurcated yoke 56 at its upper end. The yoke ishingedly secured to the bar, as at 51, and it is here noted that theaforesaid spring element 41 is conveniently attached to an eye-stud 41'on the yoke, as shown more clearly in Figs. 15 and 16.

The lower end of the rod 55 is pivotally attached, as at 58, to alever-arm 59 fixed on a main rock-shaft 60. The rock-shaft, as shownmore clearly in Figs. 15 and 16, is journalled in bracket bearings 6|,bolted, as at 52, to the horizontal main frame member 46, and it isrocked in its bearings by a main lift-rod 63 that is pivotally connectedat its lower end to a rock-arm 64 of the shaft, as at 65. The upper endof the lift-rod 63 is pivotally attached, as at 66, to a main lift-arm61 that is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 68, to a bracket bearing69 depending from the adjacent side rail of the middle stand portion 2|of the machine main frame.

This is accomplished by F has its eccentrically disposed, curved,working edge 1| in the path of a double-ended cam 12 fixed on thecountershait 5|. As shown more clearly in Figs. 15 and 16, thediametrically-opposite end portions of this cam 12 are provided withantifriction rollers 13 which, respectively, alternately engage and actupon the eccentrically disposed, curved, working face 1| of the head 10of the lift-arm 61, thereby lifting the arm,

which, in turn, correspondingly lifts the rod 63 and thus effects therocking of the shaft 60 and the consequent actuation of the severalaforesaid parts of the mechanism connected with the shaft.

The mechanism thus far described has to do with the control andactuation of the feeder bar 42 that supports the inner end of andactuates the cone-stick carrying and feeding through 24. Now, provisionfor supporting and actuating the front end of the trough will bedescribed.

Mounted at its opposite ends on the carrier frame supporting brackets35, is a transverse, horizontal shaft 14 that carries a verticallyoscillatable yoke 15. In this yoke 15 an annularly V-grooved roller 16is journalled and located directly under the adjacent near-end portionof the trough 24 so as to support the latter and permit its longitudinalreciprocation on the roller. The angularity of the peripheral V-groovein the roller 16 corresponds to that of the V-shape trough 243. Hence,the trough at all times rides self-centered and without any transversetilting on the roller.

Pivotally attached to the yoke 15, co-axially with the grooved roller15, as shown in Fig. 11, is a depending yoke 11 having a stem or shank18 extending downwardly therefrom. The lower end portion of the stem orshank 18 is apertured for the reception, pivotally therein, of therightangularly turned end portion of a crank-arm 19 of a rock-shaft thatis journalled in depending bracket bearings 8| on the adjacent siderails of the lead-in extension 22 and middle stand portion 2| of themachine main frame.

The rock-shaft 80 extends to the immediate transverse region of thehereinbefore described feeder bar 42 and the several associated liftingrods and actuating arms. At this end of the rock-shaft 80 is a crank-arm82 (se Fig. 16), pivoted, as at 83, to the upper end of a lifting rod84, the rod being pivotally attached at its lower end to the feeder bar42, as at 85.

The lifting rod 84, attached as it is to the feeder bar 42, is thuslifted with the feeder bar in the actuation of the latter, therebyrocking the shaft 80 through the medium of the crank 82, while,simultaneously therewith, the yoke 11 is lifted and elevates theannularly grooved roller 16 so that the immediate portion of the trough24 carried thereon is in the same plane as the inner end portion of thetrough. The trough is thus maintained horizontally, whether in itslowermost or highest position and also during its movements to and fromsuch positions.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, the driving power for the machine, as shown,includes an electric motor 86, which, as shown, is mounted on asubstantial horizontal bar 81 secured at its opposite ends to a pair ofthe legs 2| at one side of the middle stand portion 2| of the machinemain frame. As shown in Fig. 6, the base 88 of the motor is bolted on asupporting plate (or frame) 89 having a pair of lugs 90 that haveaxially aligned bores so as to be sleeved on the bar 01 and pinned orotherwise securely fastened thereto.

On the armature shaft 9| of the motor 80 is a pulley 92, belted as at93, to a pulley 94, of larger diameter, on a stub-shaft 95 that drives aconventional reduction gear, not shown in detail but housed in thehereinbefore described and conventionally shown box 49. From thereduction gear, which, for the particular purpose of the machine, may beof the ratio 25:1, extends a driven stub-shaft 9B. This stub-shaft isconnected by a conventional flexible coupling 91 to the hereinbeforedescribed main drive shaft 52 of the machine that drives the aforesaidcountershaft 5| through the intermediary of the miter gears 53.

On the main drive shaft 52 is a sprocket wheel 98 that, by the chain 99,drives two smaller sprocket wheels I fixed, respectively, on a pair ofcountershafts IOI that are respectively journalled in upstandingstandards I02. The countershafts IOI are located laterally outward fromthe feeder rolls 25, and the sprocket chain 99 is carried under the maindriving sprocket wheel 98, thence up through an opening providedtherefor in themain frame bed-plate 3'! and around the outer peripheralportion of one of the smaller sprocket wheels I00, then down over theinner peripheral portion of the sam wheel and under an idler sprocketwheel I03 (see Fig. 8) that is journalled in a small standard I04 (seeFig. 18)

.on the bed-plate 31 and axially beneath the conestick carrying andfeeding trough 24. From the wheel I03 the chain is carried up and aroundthe inner peripheral portion of the second sprocket wheel I00, thencedown over the outer peripheral portion of said wheel and through asecond opening in the bed-plate 31 to the main driving sprocket wheel99.

With the above described sprocket-and-chain arrangement, the twocountershafts I0| are rotated in the same direction, and the pair offeeder rolls are correspondingly rotated, each roll being provided atits inner end with a sprocket wheel I05 connected by a chain I06 to adriving sprocket wheel I01 (see Figs. 8 and 18) on the companioncountershaft IOI laterally outward therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 17 and 18, on one of the countershafts IOI isfixed a plain marking wheel I08, while on the other shaft is fixed aflanged markin wheel I09. These marking wheels are of the same diameteras to circumferential conemarking faces and said faces are justsufliciently spaced apart, in opposed, cooperative relation to eachother, so that, when the stick 26 of the nested cones 21 is movedlongitudinally between them, the bases of the respective cones in thestick are successively in tangential contact with and supported by saidcircumferential marking faces of the pair of wheels. The wheels I00 andI09 rotate in the direction like the feeder rolls 25 and theircircumferential cone-contacting faces are bevelled at an anglecorresponding to the taper of the respective cones 21 of the stick 25.

The two wheels I08 and I09 are aligned transversely of the machine andin a position relatively a short distance beyond the inner end of thecone carrying and feeding trough 24, so that when th cone-stick is fedstep-by-step in the actuation of the trough, the several cones of thestick are brought successively with their base portions in position tobe marked with the material applied by the wheel I08 (see Figs. 1, 2 and4).

Preferably, the circumferential faces of the two wheels I08 and I09 arefinely knurled or otherwise suitably roughened. This particularprovision on the wheel I00 (the one to receive and directly apply themarking material to the respective cones of the stick) is to assure thespreading of the material, which is liquid, evenly over the peripheralsurface of the wheel, i. e., the marking liquid flows in the numerousvalleys between the minute pyramidal protuberances produced by theknurling or roughening process. The same provision on the companionwheel I09 is to prevent undue removal of the marking material from thecones as applied by the wheel I09 and to insure a more even distributionof the material within well-defined confines of the narrow, colored band29 produced on the cone. In this connection, it is also noted that thematerial of which the cones are made is somewhat absorptive incharacter, thus taking the characteristic marking liquid into theessentially roughened surfaces of the kind of cones for the aforesaidmarking of which the present machine is primarily intended. With thischaracteristic feature in the cone itself, the knurling or roughening ofthe marking wheel I09 is of good advantage in a clear-cut andwell-defined marking of the cone.

The annular, marginal, flange IIO of the wheel I09 is at the side of thewheel towards the cone carrying and feeding trough 24. It is so providedand located that, when the cone-stick 26 is fed by the actuation of thetrough, step-by-step as aforesaid, the edge of the base portion of theparticular cone 21 of the stick positioned for the marking thereof isjust forward of the wheel flange. In this connection, it is here pointedout that. due to the ratchet-tooth" effect of the stick 26 of the nestedcones 2'1 and the travel of the stick pointed end forward through themachine, the stick, during the feeding thereof, rides freely and withouthindrance across the wheel flange IIO. Yet the flange, when behind theshoulder afforded by the particular positioned cone of the stick.prevents longitudinal movement of the engaged cone in the oppositedirection.

It is further pointed out that, by the provision of a delivery troughIII on the main frame extension 23, at, an upward inclination from thecone-marking elements of the machine, as shown schematically in Figs. 1and 2, but more in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, that portion of theconestick in which the respective cones have been marked, in riding upthe trough, tends to lag and press back against the flange N0 of themarking wheel I09. This effect (illustrated in Fig. 12) is attainedbecause, even though the cone-stick is'nested and self-held intact forthe purposes of the present invention, it is susceptible of appreciablefiexion, not only caused in the liftin feeding and lowering action ofthe feeder trough 24, but in conformity with the angular change in thedirection of its travel onto and up the delivery trough HI.

At this time it is still further pointed out that a heated drying tunnelII2 may be provided, as indicated conventionally in Figs. 1 and 2. Thistunnel, which, as shown, is open at its opposite ends, as at H3, isprovided at its middle with a hot-air supply pipe H4 leading from anysuitable source (not shown). Itis to be understood that any othersuitably heated, or even nonheated, means may be provided for drying themarking bands 29 on the cones. So, too, the marked cones may be taken byhand from the stick as it'nears the discharge end of the delivery troughI I I, In some installations of the machine, a special mechanical devicemay be provided for a,sa7,24e

breaking the stick and removing the marked cones.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, during the marking operation, the portionof the cone-stick in the immediate region of the marking wheels I08 andI09 is pressed and held in the trough 24 and in intimate contact withthe feeder rolls 25. This is'done by the major body portion of a presserroller II5, having an annular peripheral groove II6 that separates arelatively narrow circumferential portion II! from the larger bodyportion.

The narrow circumferential portion III of the roller IIS is verticallyaligned, directly above the marking wheels I08 and I09 and presses thebase portion of the interposed cone of the stick directly into contactwith the wheels. It is of a width approximately that of the band 29marked on the cone, possibly slightly narrower or wider. The reason forannularly grooving the roller H5 and thus separating the narrowcircumferential portion II! from the main body circumference is toprevent flowing onto the major surface of the roller the markingmaterial taken up on the narrow circumferentialportion lI'I as it rollsin contact with the cone having the material applied. The majorcircumferential portion of the roller, thus kept free of the markingmaterial, has only to do with the pressing and holding of a few of thenested cones of the stick Just prior to their successive movement intomarking position. This avoids any possibility of smearing the conesbefore the intended marking thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 9, the presser roller 5 is carriedon a vertically swingable, horizontal arm I I9 that is hingedly mountedat one end, as at II9, on a cross rod or shaft at the top of an uprightframe or standard I20 secured on an adjacent side rail portion of themiddle stand 2I of the machine main frame. The free end portion of thearm H8 is extended through a guide slot I2I in an upright bar I22secured on the opposite side rail portion of the main frame, as at I23.

A spring element I24 is attached at one end to the free end of theroller-carrying arm IIB, as at I25, and has its opposite end secured byan eyestud I26 to the head of the bolt that fastens the upright bar I22to the main frame side rail, as shown, or it may be secured in any othersuitable manner. By this provision the presser roller H5 is yieldablyheld constantly under tension of the spring I20 and normally in alowered position so as to bear on the cone-stick. However, during thetime that the trough 20 is raised on its stickfeeding stroke, thepresser roller is lifted clear of the cone-stick carried by the trough.This is accomplished by means of a lifting rod I21 that is pivotallyattached at its upper end to the rollercarrying arm II8, as at I29 inFig. 9. As shown in Fig. 11 its lower end is pivotally attached, as atI29, to a lifting arm I30 fixed on the rock-shaft 90 .and ofapproximately the same length and throw of the arm 00 that rocks saidshaft 60 when the aforesaid rod 93 is lifted by the actuation of themain lift-arm 61! of the machine. Thus, the

with the corresponding actuation of the conefeeding trough 29.

Some distance beyond the marking wheels I03 and I09 there is a pair ofdelivery rolls I3I, of approximately the same diameter asthe feederrolls 29 and substantially in axial alignment therewith. These deliveryrolls are rotated in the same direction as the aligned feeder rolls,they being lifting of the presser roller H5 is synchronized eachprovided with a sprocket wheel I32 at the outer end thereof that isdriven by a chain I33 from a sprocket wheel I34 fixed on an extension I0I of one of the countershafts "II on which the marking wheels arecarried and rotated (see Fig. 18).

The delivery rolls, as shown, are relatively shorter in length than thefeeder rolls 25, i. e., they need be only long enough to support thecone-stick 26, in their immediate region, so as to assist in maintainingrotation of the stick in its longitudinal travel through the machine.The frictional engagement between the snugly nested I cones of the stickis suflicient to hold the assembled stick intact while otherwiseunsupported in spanning the comparatively short space between themarking wheels I08 and' I 09 and the inner ends of the pair of deliveryrolls I3I. This space is provided to allow of appreciable drying andsetting of the annular, colored band 29 marked on the respective conesof the stick. Otherwise, there might occur a smearing of the cone-stick(beyond the intended marking) by longer rolls whose inner ends were inclose proximity to the marking wheels I08 and I09.

From the rolls I 3| the marked cones of the stick pass directly onto theaforesaid delivery trough III, whence the marked bands 29 arethorougjily dried while passing through the drying chamber or tunnelII2.

The several rolls 25 and I3I, and the two countershafts IOI and theirextensions IIII' are conventionally journalled in upstanding bracketbearings designated generally in the drawings by the numeral I35, asshown in Fig. 1a. In this connection, it is noted that the rolls I3I aremounted on countershafts I3I For supplying the marking liquid,designated, as shown, by the numeral I36, a rectangular pan or containerI3! is provided. This pan or container extends transversely of themachine main frame, beneath the marking wheels I08 and I09, and is,preferably, removably mounted in rectangularly-pocketed, supportingbrackets I38 provided therefor at opposite sides of the main frame.

Rotating with its lower portion immersed in the liquid marking materialin the pan or container I31, is a transfer disk or applicator I39,preferably made of compressed fiber, although other material may be usedfor the purpose. The disk I39 is preferably tapered from its hub portionto periphery, so as to produce a very narrow or nearly sharp,circumferential, contact face or edge to bear on the circumferentialface of the plain marking wheel I08 (see Figs. 1'7 and 18 for a clearillustration thereof). This form of disk I39 transfers only a minimumquantity of the marking liquid from the pan or container I31. Theliquid, which is of a characteristic nature as more fully andspecifically described in the above mentioned copending application,quickly spreads in the recesses of the knurled or otherwise roughenedperipheral surface of the marking wheel I03. If desired or foundnecessary, a wiper element I 40 may be provided to act on the peripheralmaterial. applying face of said wheel I 08, just after moving fromcontact with the transfer disk or applicator I39. So, too, another wiperI 9| may or may not be provided to wipe the peripheral face of theflanged marking wheel I09 to rid it of any of the marking material thatmay have been taken off the wet marking band 29 applied'to theinterposed cone of the stick by the plain wheel I09.

As shown, the disk I 39 has its hub portion fixed on the end of avertically oscillatable, substantially horizontal, countershait m. Thisshaft is journalled near its ends in upstanding, rightangular, bearingextensions I43 an elongated supporting element I44 that is bracketed, asat I45 cross-member I49 of the machine frame, with its lower eggattached to a stirrup I50 that extends under theelement I44 andstraddles the countershaft I42. The spring I40 is constantly undertension to lift the element I44 and thereby yieldably hold the transferdisk I39 normally in working contact with the marking wheel I 08.

The disk I 39 is rotated in a direction opposite to that in which themarking wheel I08 rotates. This is acomplished by the provision of apulley IS! on the countershaft I42, driven by a crossed belt I52 from apulley I53 provided on the extension IOI of one of the countershaft-sIOI that carry the marking wheels I08 and I09. As shown in Figs. 17 and18, the pulley I53 is located on the shaft extension from the flangedmarking wheel I 09. i

In the operation of the machine as herein described and illustrated inthe drawings, an attendant first places a stick 26 of the cones 21,pointed end forward, on the trough 24 between theieeder rolls 25.Thereafter, from time to time, as the stick progresses in itslongitudinal travel through the machine, shorter cone-stick sections areadded to the advancing stick already in the machine. This is readilyaccomplished manually, as the trough 24 and cooperating rolls 25 are ata convenient elevation from the floor or platform where the machine islocated. So, too, the several parts of the machine that carry and actupon the cone-stick are uncovered and conveniently accessible, and thestick itself is exposed to view and accessible throughout substantiallyits entire length for inspection and such adjustments that may possiblybe necessary on the part of the attendant.

The working of the machine is entirely automatic and the feeding of thecone-stick and successive marking of the constituent cones is effectedwith rapidity and exact nioety and preclsion.

The advanced portion of the stick, comprising the marked cones, isconveniently accessible and readily taken apart and removed from thedelivery trough III, either manually, by hand of the attendant, or elseby some practical mechanical means, which latter, of itself, is not apart of the present invention and, therefore, not shown in the drawings.

While the herein illustrated and described apparatus is a practicalembodiment of the invention. the same may be modified and changed inmany particulars within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Theinvention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction andarrangement shown.

the cones that come successively into registry with the color bandingstation, rotating the cones during the banding operation to provide anannular band around the periphery of each suc'cessive cone, andrepeating this cycle of operations to cause each of the cones in thestick to be banded and then move away from the banding station.

2. A method 0! color banding a stick of cones as defined in claim 1 andin which the stick is elevated to a position above the marking stationduring longitudinal advancement of the stick and is lowered into bandingposition during the banding operation and while at longitudinal rest.

3. The method of marking a hollow cone with a distinctively colored bandencircling a circummarking medium whereby to efiect intermittentferential base-end portion thereof, comprising the intemesting of aplurality of the cones one within another in an elongated stick withsubstantial base-end exposure, moving the stick longitudinally, withintermittent, step-by-step travel, past and in proximity to a markapplying means, applying by said means a marking medium around theperipheral faces of the exposed base-end portions of the respectivecones of the stick as the same are successively brought into a positioncoincident with the transverse plane of the mark applying means, andthen drying the marking medium thus applied, after the respective markedcones of the stick are movedbeyond the place of marking application.

4. An apparatus for marking individually each of a plurality of hollowcones assembled internested and held together by detachable frictionalengagement in an elongated stick in which the circumference of asubstantial base-end portion of each cone is exposed, such apparatuscomprising means for supportin the cone-stick intact, a. stationarysupply of said marking medium, moving transfer means in contact withsaid medium and adapted for applying externally said marking medium onthe respective exposed base-end portions only of the several cones ofthe supported stick, and means for establishing relative intermittentmovement cooperatively between the supported cone-stick and said meansof application of the marking of the cones.

5. An apparatus for marking individually each of a plurality of hollowcones assembled internested and held together by detachable frictionalengagement in an elongated stick in which the circumference of asubstantial base-end portion of each cone is exposed, such apparatuscomprising means for supporting the cone-stick intact, a. supply ofcolor, moving transfer means in contact with said color and adapted forapplying externally a distinctively colored band around the respectiveexposed base-end portions only of the several cones of the supportedstick, and means for establishing relative intermittent movementcooperatively between the supported cone-stick and said means ofapplication of the colored band whereby to efiect intermittent bandingof the cone bases and to omit application of color to the remainder ofthe cones during said intermittent movement.

6. A machine for marking bands on the circumferential-faces of theexposed base-end portions of hollow cones and the like, assembledinternested, one within another, in an elongated stick, said machinecomprising a laterally spaced pair of power-driven parallel rollsrotating in the same direction, whereby to rotate, in the oppositedirection, a cone-stick disposed lengthwise and supported thereon,pointed end of the stick forward, a longitudinal trough element disposedparallel with and between said pair of rotating rolls, beneath thecone-stfili' supported on the rolls, power means actuating said troughwith a parallel rotary motion from end to end thereof, first upwardlyand forwardly to thereby lift the superimposed cone-stick and move thesame bodily one step forward, thence downwardly and rearwardly,depositing the cone-stick in its thus advanced stage again on the saidspaced pair of rolls, a laterally spaced pair of rotating marking wheelslocated forward of the ends of the said trough and the spaced pair ofcone-stick-supporting rolls, a; distance corresponding to one step inthe intermittent longitudinal travel of the conestick, whereby therespective cones of the stick are brought successively each with itsexposed base portion in transverse coincident alignment between theperipheries of the said marking wheels, means rotating said markingwheels in the same direction as said first mentioned pair of conesticksupporting rolls, a marking material container located beneath saidmarking wheels, means for transferring an ample quantity of markingmaterial from the container below to the peripheral face of one of saidmarking wheels, a superimposed presser roller normally at an elevationto clear the cone-stick passing longitudinally thereunder, andintermittently operating means for lowering said presser roller intopressing contact with the cone-stick in the region of the same wheresupported on the adjacent end portions of the said spaced pair ofsupporting rolls and on the said marking wheels.

7. A machineas set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a laterallyspaced pair of longitudinal delivery rolls located forward from themarking wheels, said delivery rolls being similar in diameter to andsubstantially in axial alignment with the said first mentioned pair ofcone-sticksupporting rolls, and means for rotating said delivery rollsin the same direction and simultaneously as said first mentionedcone-stick-supporting rolls are rotated.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a laterallyspaced pair of longitudinal delivery rolls located forward from themarking wheels, said delivery rolls being similar in diameter to andsubstantially in axial alignment with the said first mentioned pair ofconestick-supporting rolls, means for rotating said delivery rolls inthe same direction and simultaneously as said first mentionedcone-stick-supporting rolls are rotated, and a longitudinal deliverytrough extending at an upward inclination forwardly from said pair ofdelivery rolls.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a laterallyspaced pair of longitudinal delivery rolls located forward from themarking wheels, said delivery rolls being similar in diameter to andsubstantially in axial alignment with the said first mentioned pair ofconestick-supporting rolls, means for rotating said delivery rolls inthe same direction and simultaneously as said first mentionedcone-stick-supporting rolls are rotated, a longitudinal delivery troughextending at an upward inclination forwardly from said pair of deliveryrolls, and a drier element located in cooperative relation to saiddelivery trough and creating an effective drying zone through which themarked cone portions of the stick travel on said delivery trough fromsaid marking wheels and said delivery rolls.

10. A machine for marking a stick of hollow cones internested one withinanother with substantial base-end exposure of each cone, such machinecomprising a pair of peripherally opposed and aligned marking wheels,spaced apart but in close relation to each other so as to support thecone-stick when the same is passed longitudinally across and between thewheels, separate cooperative means for supporting and rotating theconestick and also for effecting an intermittent longitudinal travel ofthe cone-stick so as to bring the exposed base-end portions of therespective cones of the stick successively into position coincident withthe transverse plane of said marking wheels, means for rotating themarking wheels so as to rotate the cone-stick when in contact therewithand in the same direction of rotation as effected by said precedingmentioned cone-stick supporting and rotating means, and means forsupplying marking material to the periphery of at least one of saidmarking wheels whereby a band of such material is applied to thecircumference of the exposed base-end portion of the cone of the stickriding rotatably on said marking wheels.

11. In a machine for marking annularly the circumference of the exposedbase-end portions of hollow cones internested one within another in anelongated stick, such machine comprising cooperative means forsupporting, rotating and feeding the stick longitudinally in astep-by-step travel, a pair of peripherally opposed and aligned markingwheels, spaced apart but in close relation to each other and located soas to support the exposed base-end portions of the cones of the stick asthe same are respectively brought into coincidence with the transverseplane of said wheels in the said step-by-step travel of the stick, amarking material container, and means for transferring the markingmaterial from said container to the periphery of at least one of saidmarking wheels, the said means comprising a tapered, sharp-edged,circular disk running partially immersed in the material within thecontainer and its periphery rolling in contact with the periphery of themarking wheel.

12. In a machine for marking annularly the circumference of the exposedbase-end portions of hollow cones internested one within another in anelongated stick, such machine comprising cooperative means forsupporting, rotating and feeding the stick longitudinally in astep-by-step travel, a pair of peripherally opposed and aligned markingwheels, spaced apart but in close relation to each other and located soas to support the exposed base-end portions of the cones of the stick asthe same are respectively brought into coincidence with the transverseplane of said wheels in the said step-by-step travel of the stick, amarking material container, and means for transferring the markingmaterial from said container to the periphery of at least one of saidmarking wheels, the said means comprising a movably mounted, tapered,sharp-edged, circular disk partially immersed in the material within thecontainer, yieldable means supporting said disk in peripheral contactwith the marking wheel, and power means for rotating said disksynchronously with the rotation of the contacted marking wheel.

13. A machine for marking individual hollow cones internested one withinanother in an elongated stick, with substantial base-end portioncircumferential exposure of each cone, such machine comprising means forsupporting the conestick lengthwise and rotating the stick about itslongitudinal axis, cooperative means for lifting the cone-stick fromsaid supporting and rotating means and moving the stick lengthwise witha step-by-step travel, the means of support and rotation and the meansof lift and longitudinal travel being correlated and synchronized sothat rotation of the stick occurs except during its periods of lift andlongitudinal travel, marking means disposed transversely of the axis ofthe cone-stick and located forward of said supporting and rotating meansand of said lifting and lengthwise step-by-step moving means for thestick, said marking means being relatively positioned so that, in thestep-by-step travel of the stick, the marking means is reached by theexposed base-end portions of the respective cones of the stick, each insuccession, at the termination of each pause in the longitudinal travelof the stick, and means for effecting the application of the markingmeans to the stick so as to annularly mark the opposedly positioned coneof the rotat- 1X18 stick.

14. A machine for marking individual hollow cones internested one withinanother in an elongated stick, with substantial base-end portioncircumferential exposure of each cone, such machine comprising means forsupporting the conestick lengthwise and rotating the stick about itslongitudinal axis, cooperative means for lifting the cone-stick fromsaid supporting and rotating means and having provision for positiveengagement with the base-end-edge of one of the cones for moving thestick lengthwise with a step-bystep travel, the means of support androtation and the means of lift and longitudinal travel being correlatedand synchronized so that rotation of the stick occurs except during itsperiods of lift and longitudinal travel, marking means disposedtransversely of the axis of the cone-stick and located forward of saidsupporting and rotating means and of said lifting and lengthwisestepby-step moving means for the stick, said marking means beingrelatively positioned so that, in the step-by-step travel of the stick,the marking means is reached by the exposed base-end portions of therespective cones of the stick, each in succession, at the termination ofeach pause in the longitudinal travel of the stick, and means foreffecting the application of the marking means to the stick so as toannularly mark the opposedly positioned cone of the rotating stick.

15. A machine for color banding a plurality of hollow cones internestedto form an elongated stick of cones, comprising a supply of coloringmaterial, means for transferring said coloring material from the supplyto the cones, means for advancing said stick of cones longitudinally andintermittently to said color transfer means, means for stopping thelongitudinal nfovement of said stick intermittently as the cones-. comesuccessively into registry with said color transfer means, means forrotating the cones while at longitudinal rest and in cooperation withsaid color transfer means so as to provide a restricted annular bandaround the periphery of each successiveficone, and means for repeatingthis cycle of operations to cause said cones to move in step by step'nianner and to be handed by said color transfer means.

16. A machine for applying color bands to a stick of cones as defined inclaim 15, and characterized further by means for intermittentlyraisingand lowering said stick of cones during the step by step advanceof the stick of cones.

CHARLES K. DUNLAP.

LAWRENCE B. STOGNER.

